I want to take a small log (oak,cherry?), choose one end as the bottom, bore a 6 inch in diameter, 6 inch deep, hole into it and then drill an 1 1/8 inch intersecting hole from the outside.
I am willing to buy a small(used?)lathe. I would prefer a table top model that could double as a log clamp/holder.
Please advise. drew
Drew wrote: I want to take a small log (oak,cherry?), choose one end as the bottom, bore a 6 inch in diameter, 6 inch deep, hole into it and then drill an 1 1/8 inch intersecting hole from the outside.(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^ Making a birdhouse? When I did mine, I turned it from the top, and then turned a conical insert for the roof.
ANY small lathe can handle this.
"Leo Lichtman" wrote : Making a birdhouse? When I did mine, I turned it from the top, and then
************************************************ Could you tell me about the size of your lathe ? What cutting tools you used ? and how you lock the log onto the lathe ?drew
Drew wrote: ************************************************ Could you tell me about the size of your lathe ? What cutting tools you used ? and how you lock the log onto the lathe ? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As well as I can remember, yes. The lathe was a Jet 1236, which has a 3/4 HP motor, a 12" swing, and 36" bed. However, since you are looking to turn a 6" dia birdhouse, you could do it on one of the mini lathes qhite well.
I don't recall how I held it, but a faceplate would work. If you do as I did, and have the opening upward, the roof can rest by gravity, and the screwholes will be on the bottom, where they probably won't matter. If this is going to be seen by other turners, who might comment on the screw holes, then you would have to part off enough material to remove them. Another way would be to glue the bottom to a wasteblock, and break it off afterwards.
As far as tools go, I probably used a bowl gouge to do most of the hollowing. I could also have used a Termite (ring tool) and a scraper.
Leave the bark on. Drill an extra hole below the 1 1/2" one to hold a dowel or a twig for a perch. You will have a very attractive birdhouse.
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